Comments on: NRO Reshuffle

By: Our Paul

Our Paul — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:23:14 +0000

James, in response to your response on the cover of NR chosen for this blog, you really know how to pour salt into the wounds of of a correspondent that takes pride in his subtlety!

I must call for a round of applause, for it is difficult to argue against your point #3, to wit:

represents the silliness that NR has frequently degenerated into in its post-Buckley years.

But, who would have guessed that was your intent? On the other hand, advancing age may not lead to wisdom, but rather a decrease in perception.

By: Stormy Dragon

Stormy Dragon — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:11:07 +0000

How can a publication with such founding principles be considered as anything BUT partisan?

Those founding principles aren't partisan at all; they're ideological. The fact that partisanship has largely replaced ideology in the conservative movement is why it's in decline right now.

By: steve

steve — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:10:10 +0000

I am with you James. I keep hoping that NRO will give up its snark routine and get serious. It is sometimes useful as a center of criticism, but rarely offers anything positive. I hope that adding Reihan is a step in that direction. He is thoughtful, offers solutions and criticizes the other side without malice. I generally get the feeling he cares about his country, the whole country. I hope the others there do not ruin him.

Steve

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:33:22 +0000

And the Magazine cover was chosen because it was readily available, or to remind us that KLo’s ethnicity is Hispanic and therefore another version of the wise Latina, or…. This one, I for one, cannot figure out…

It's both 1) the current cover, 2) one that was controversial, and 3) represents the silliness that NR has frequently degenerated into in its post-Buckley years.

By: Our Paul

Our Paul — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:27:29 +0000

And the Magazine cover was chosen because it was readily available, or to remind us that KLo’s ethnicity is Hispanic and therefore another version of the wise Latina, or…. This one, I for one, cannot figure out…

Not to be construed as a cheap shot, for I certainly agree with this:

No word on what this means for NRO’s editorial direction. I’d like to see it take a few steps back in the direction of being the intellectual home of conservatism but that seems vanishingly unlikely.

By: Eric Florack

Eric Florack — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:57:10 +0000

I think they've become more partisan hackish and less intellectual.

Perception changes outcome, to be certain, but I wonder what drives that perception? Let's look at the founding documents of NR. (First para on the page... you're picking it up from mid-article) How can a publication with such founding principles be considered as anything BUT partisan? I'm trying to get my arms around your objection here, James, and Partisan doesn't quite seem to explain your objection.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:10:36 +0000

I think they've become more partisan hackish and less intellectual. But maybe that's a function of the Web vice print. Or of my being older and less easily impressed.

By: Nightly Ramble: | BitsBlog

Nightly Ramble: | BitsBlog — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:57:08 +0000

[...] Steely Dan’s “Kings”: Along with James Joyner, I note the changing of the Guard over at NRO, with KJL moving down to DC to take on the editor at [...]

By: Eric Florack

Eric Florack — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:33:27 +0000

I’d like to see it take a few steps back in the direction of being the intellectual home of conservatism but that seems vanishingly unlikely.

I admit being curious on where you suppose them to have moved away from that function. I'm not being argumentitive, I'm curious.... flesh this out some.